Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to step up to play a leading role and set an example in carrying out the Global Governance Initiative (GGI).
Xi proposed the GGI when chairing the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Plus" Meeting in north China's port city of Tianjin, where the SCO held the largest summit in its 24-year history, attended by leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations.
The SCO has increasingly become a catalyst for the development and reform of the global governance system, Xi pointed out.
"The founding declaration and the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization made it clear at the outset that we should promote a more democratic, fair and rational political and economic international order. Over the past 24 years, the SCO has adhered faithfully to its Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development. We have discussed regional affairs together, built platforms and mechanisms together, and benefited from cooperation together. We have also initiated many new global governance concepts and put them into practice. The SCO has increasingly become a catalyst for the development and reform of the global governance system," he said.
"In response to the once-in-a-century transformations unfolding faster across the world, the SCO should step up to play a leading role and set an example in carrying out the GGI. We should contribute to safeguarding world peace and stability. With a vision for common security, SCO member states have signed the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, conducted effective security cooperation, and maintained overall stability in the region. We should continue to uphold the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party. We should combine our efforts in addressing various threats and challenges, give full play to the newly established SCO Universal Center for Countering Security Challenges and Threats and the SCO Anti-drug Center, and build a community of common security in the region. We should remain a force for stability in this volatile world," he continued.
Xi urged more efforts in promoting open cooperation across the world.
"SCO member states have rich energy resources, big markets and strong internal driving forces, and we are contributing a rising share to world economic growth. We should continue to dismantle walls, not erect them; we should seek integration, not decoupling. We should advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and push for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. China will readily share the opportunities of its vast market, and continue to implement the action plan for high-quality development of economic and trade cooperation within the SCO family," he said.
To this end, China will establish three major platforms for China-SCO cooperation in energy, green industry, and the digital economy, and set up three major cooperation centers for scientific and technological innovation, higher education, and vocational and technical education, according to the Chinese president.
China is ready to build with all sides the artificial intelligence (AI) application cooperation center, and share the dividends of progress in AI, he said.
The country also welcomes all parties to use the Beidou Satellite Navigation System and invite countries with relevant capacities to take part in the International Lunar Research Station project, he added.
Xi stressed that the SCO should set an example in championing the common values of humanity.
"We should set an example in championing the common values of humanity. Among SCO member states, cultural exchanges are packed with highlights, people-to-people interactions are frequent and robust, and different civilizations radiate their unique splendor. We should continue to promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and write brilliant chapters of peace, amity and harmony among countries different in history, culture, social system and development stage," he said.
Xi also asked SCO members to firmly defend international fairness and justice.
"We should act to defend international fairness and justice. In compliance with the principles of justice and fairness, SCO member states have engaged constructively in international and regional affairs, and upheld the common interests of the Global South. We should continue to unequivocally oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, and stand as a pillar in promoting a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations. China supports the SCO in expanding cooperation with other multilateral institutions, such as the UN, ASEAN, the Eurasian Economic Union, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, to jointly uphold the international economic and trade order and improve global and regional governance," he said.
Founded in Shanghai in June 2001, the SCO has expanded from six founding members into a 26-nation family of 10 members, two observers and 14 dialogue partners spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, with cooperation covering more than 50 areas and a combined economic output of nearly 30 trillion U.S. dollars.
Xi urges SCO to play leading role in carrying out Global Governance Initiative
Xi urges SCO to play leading role in carrying out Global Governance Initiative
Xi urges SCO to play leading role in carrying out Global Governance Initiative
